Canada names roster for Women’s National Excel camp in Vancouver

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that four Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite players are among a group of 22 prospective players assembled for a seven-day Women's National Excel camp in Vancouver, BC from 10 to 17 June, 2013 in preparation for next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014. Whitecaps FC Girls Elite head coach Jesse Symons will also be assisting with the camp after working with the group during their last camp in West Virginia last month.

The four players called into camp are: defender Aman Shergill, midfielder Emma Fletcher, and strikers Jasmin Dhanda and Chelsea Harkins. All four players formerly took part in the BC Soccer Provincial Team program.

Canada U-20 head coach Andrew Olivieri will oversee proceedings during the camp in Vancouver where players will be looking to impress the coaching staff with a view to earning a spot on Canada’s roster for next summer’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on home soil.

“This camp is part of our continued preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada,” said Olivieri. “Players eligible for the tournament (born January 1, 1994 or later) have had the opportunity to be part of the 2013 season with the Canadian program, either at the Women’s National Team level, as part of the EXCELeration program or as part of the previous National Excel camp in March.

"This is another opprotunity for the players to showcase themselves as we build towards Canada 2014."

Although not named to the U-20 camp roster: Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence and Nichelle Prince are also eligible to feature at Canada 2014. All three players have made senior appearances for Canada in 2013.

Notes on the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014:

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is one of two FIFA women’s youth tournaments being played ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. The inaugural edition of this competition was played in Canada in 2002 (then known as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship). The most recent edition was played in Japan, where CONCACAF members the USA were crowned for a third time (2002, 2008 and 2012).

Edmonton, Moncton, Montréal and Toronto have been named as the Host Cities for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014.

The match schedule for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 will be announced in the coming months.